Kobe Bryant may go down as the greatest Laker of all-time, and with his latest contract extension he has made his stay in Gold and Purple (or Forum Blue) into a run spanning two decades. Bryant and the Lakers agreed today on a two-year extension that will pay the future hall of famer $48.5 million. The deal is for $23.5 million in the first year and $25 million in the second.
The Lakers star has yet to play this season as he continues to recover from the Achilles injury that ended his playoff run last year.
Kobe’s 20-year run, with only one team, would be the longest such run in NBA history.
“This is a very happy day for Lakers fans and for the Lakers organization,” Lakers GM Mitch Kupchak said in a released statement. “We’ve said all along that our priority and hope was to have Kobe finish his career as a Laker, and this should ensure that that happens. To play 20 years in the NBA, and to do so with the same team, is unprecedented, and quite an accomplishment. Most importantly however, it assures us that one of the best players in the world will remain a Laker, bringing us excellent play and excitement for years to come.”
This move ensures that the Lakers will continue to be Kobe’s team until 2016. However the question now becomes who will join him. The Lakers have a big question in Pau Gasol who will also be a free agent this off-season, and will almost certainly be looking to add at least one big name free agent. It may take some dipping into the Luxury Tax threshold though to do it, though the Lakers haven’t been shy about such moves in the past.
Thanks for reading. You can follow the LWOS basketball department on twitter – @NBAAnalystFaro, @fourpoint_play, @TrendingTristan, @aFishCalledMatt, @NBAFantasyInfo, @lwosjbjatty, @MFFeLtman, @matttheballer23, @caulfieldhoops, and @hoops_scoop. While you’re at it, give the site a follow too – @lastwordonsport and like our Facebook Page.
Interested in writing for LastWordOnSports? If so, check out our “Join Our Team” page to find out how.
